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Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Oh Oh...It's Starting Earlier This Season

Well...it would have been reasonable to assume that the Packers had several seasons worth of injuries all rolled into one last season. There should be clear sailing on that front for a long time to come.

Not.

In the last 15 minutes of Sunday's minicamp, veteran offensive lineman Kevin Barry went down with an injury. He had to be taken from the field on a cart. Until today, they weren't certain exactly what the prognosis would be.

Now they know: not good...may be out for the season...even before it starts.

The injury turned out to be a tear in Barry's quadriceps that will require surgery. Although the surgery hasn't yet been scheduled, Coach Mike McCarthy reportedly said that it will be sooner rather than later. He indicated that it was the same type of injury that cost RB Ahman Green most of his 2005 season. While Barry is bigger than the type of lineman the staff now wants to use in its zone blocking scheme, his experience and attitude were things the staff could count on regardless. So, scratch one 6-foot-4, 341-pound fifth-year tackle from this season's roster. Ouch.

Other owies from this last weekend include rookies CB Will Blackmon with an unspecified foot injury, and RB Arliss Beach who has a hamstring pull. Blackmon still needs to be examined by the team doctor before a prognosis can be made, but Coach McCarthy said Beach will likely be out anywhere from two to six weeks.

Let's just hope that these incidents are not the start of deja vu all over again.